Roles and Functions of the NAF Curriculum Leaders 2008 - 2009

INTERN ORIENTATION TO THE WORKPLACE

On behalf of all NAF staff, thank you for providing internships to NAF students! This internship will help prepare them for college and career success, and it starts today. Orientation day is critical for the interns as it helps to set the standards for the rest of the internship. Do not assume the interns have any knowledge of your working environment. Always go above and beyond in explaining the items below and periodically check for understanding.

Below is a checklist of items to cover during your internship orientation:

During the Workplace Tour Give Emphasis to:
Reception area and administrative support staff that may be points of contact for the interns.
Kitchen area and proper kitchen protocols (i.e. washing dishes, storing food, consuming food, shared utensils or food containers, etc.).
Emergency exits. Point out all emergency exits and the fact that elevators may not be operational during an emergency. Be sure to follow the most practical emergency exit to the location outside where the intern should meet with coworkers during an emergency.
Copy room. Point out proper protocols to be used in the copy room (i.e. copy codes for projects, disposal and recycling).
Internship supervisor desk or office area.
Interns’ desk or office area. Point out protocol for eating, recycling, trash, desk cleanliness, etc.
Conference rooms. Point out how to reserve and use conference rooms and protocols for leaving the room after use.
Be sure to introduce the interns to as many staff as possible, making introductions and the person’s role in the company. Point out proper methods to communicate with office staff and people to contact or report to when you are away from the office. Always have a second and third point of contact for interns.
General Orientation Checklist:
Discuss the use of mobile devices and company property (i.e. proper internet usage).
Explain the protocol for reporting a completed task.
Present an overview of products and services the organization provides. Interns should have previously done research. Point out organizational structure and functions of various departments.
Discuss the Internship Work and Learning Plan with the intern.
Review the projects and tasks developed in the document. Discuss the tasks and associated skills that will be developed. Ensure clarity of understanding.
Review the Internship Assessment with the interns. Discuss questions about the skills to be developed during the internship.
Discuss skills the intern wants to develop during the internship. These skills may already be identified in the Work Plan, but if additional skills are identified by the intern, discuss ways to develop them during the internship. Complete the Learning Plan portion of the document during this conversation.